Another building at St. Freya Academy exploded like a firework.
In terms of sheer spectacle, it was far more shocking than Kiana's rocket launcher demolition last time.
"Didn't you already know that, my friend?"
Otto, whose neck was being gripped, showed none of the panic that an ordinary person should have displayed in such a situation. His expression remained as calm as it had been moments ago.
The ability to control flames...
And an extreme sensitivity to mental abilities.
The moment Levi released him from the control of Mimic Feathered Dust, Otto had detected something amiss. He had then used extremely powerful energy to prevent Mimic Feathered Dust from continuing to interfere with his mind.
Without even turning his head, Levi raised a hand and punched another Otto who was sneaking up behind him, directly blowing his head apart.
The mechanical structure inside was exposed.
As Otto's body collapsed to the ground, a firearm slipped from his hand. Levi took a closer look.
He felt a little annoyed.
Originally, he'd been considering whether to establish a cooperative relationship with Otto and help him make contact with the Imaginary Tree in a more peaceful manner.
After all, this guy was bent on dying to create a world in which Kallen could survive.
But first came Mimic Feathered Dust, followed by Mimic Skyfire.
That gave Levi an urge to twist Otto's neck.
Of course, he didn't mean the neck of the Soul Steel body in front of him, but the neck of Otto's actual flesh-and-blood body, which he had hidden away.
"Otto Apocalypse."
Levi spoke coldly, "Your Kallen is gone!"
'Cooperation? Cooperation my ass!'
'I'll make sure you never see Kallen again for the rest of your life!'
As Otto's weakness, Kallen was a far more effective target than Otto himself. Attacking Otto over the matter of Kallen would hurt him much more than attacking him directly.
The calm expression on Otto's face instantly stiffened.
He had never expected to hear Kallen's name come out of Levi's mouth.
And Levi had even said that his Kallen was gone, like a child throwing a tantrum.
Wasn't his Kallen already...
Oh?
A faint smile appeared on Otto's face. "Please forgive me, my friend. You had Theresa give that fellow's belongings to..."
And had even requested that they be buried beside Kallen's tombstone.
The fact that he hadn't immediately gathered Durandal, Rita, and the other members of Immortal Blades to launch a coordinated attack against Levi was already an act of considerable restraint.
"So you're saying I should thank you, then?", Levi asked coldly.
"No need. I only wanted to say..." Otto glanced at his Soul Steel body lying behind Levi and smiled. "We're even."
There were no eternal enemies or friends, only eternal interests.
Otto understood this very well.
Although Levi's tone was extremely cold, Otto knew that their relationship hadn't reached the point where one of them had to die.
After all, that vixen was already dead.
Her belongings had also been sent to the other side of the Earth.
There was nothing worth worrying about.
The main reason Otto had come to St. Freya Academy to find Levi was that he was curious about Levi's identity, as well as the many 'interesting incidents' that had occurred since his appearance.
"Smashing two of my rather expensive Soul Steel bodies should be enough to soothe your anger, wouldn't you say, sir?"
"Of course, I also understand that you still hold a grudge."
Levi curled his lip.
Obviously.
Anyone would hold a grudge after having Mimic Feathered Dust shoved in their face before they'd even exchanged a few words.
If Levi weren't a gentleman, he would've sent Otto flying into the sky long ago.
Why else would he still be standing here chatting with the other party for so long?
"If there's anything you want, sir, feel free to ask Schicksal. As long as it's within Schicksal's power to provide, we'll fulfill your request."
"Great. Then I want Schicksal."
"Certainly." Otto nodded without hesitation. "However, you'll have to wait until I've accomplished my goal."
"After that, Schicksal will belong to you, and you may do with it as you please."
"..."
Otto's sincerity left Levi speechless. He couldn't help feeling indignant on Theresa's behalf.
With a grandfather like this, who casually handed his inheritance over to an outsider, she really had drawn the short straw for eight lifetimes.
Crack!
Otto still had a smile on his face, but Levi had already snapped his neck with brute force.
Electric sparks crackled from the exposed circuitry inside.
After all, he'd just said that two Soul Steel bodies were involved. It would be a waste not to crush the one in his hands as well.
'What a pity, though.'
Herrscher of Sentience hadn't been born yet. Otherwise, he could have happily dismantled these two Soul Steel bodies together with her.
"Hm?" Levi's ears twitched. He waved his hand to disperse the flames covering the ruins and saw Kiana standing at the edge of the rubble, panting heavily.
Theresa and Fu Hua had followed behind her, along with several other Valkyries who had heard the commotion and rushed over to see what was happening.
"Another building blown up..."
"That person seems to be Kiana's friend."
"Could he be her boyfriend?"
People of the same kind flocked together. The two of them had each blown up a teaching building, so it seemed highly likely that they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
The Valkyries whispered among themselves.
Levi glanced around. Under the outburst of Herrscher-level power, the entire building, except for the classroom beneath his feet, had been destroyed and reduced to construction debris.
Seeing Levi emerge from the ruins and taking in the surrounding scene, the corners of Theresa's mouth twitched slightly.
She said irritably, "Well done."
Every single one of them seemed to love blowing things up.
"Go ask Otto to reimburse you."
Levi's gaze swept across the surroundings, but he didn't see anyone wearing a maid outfit. Apparently, Rita had already withdrawn after receiving Otto's instructions.
Otherwise, he'd wanted to kidnap Rita and make her serve as his maid while he was staying at St. Freya.
Judging by Otto's attitude, he clearly wouldn't refuse such a small request from Levi.
Don't give him that nonsense about how an S-rank Valkyrie was an important combat asset to Schicksal, and losing one would greatly reduce the speed at which Honkai could be eliminated.
The truth was that Immortal Blades' real trump card was Durandal. As long as that woman was around, Honkai wouldn't be able to gain a foothold anywhere in the world.
Besides, Miss Rita's specialty was assassination.
Fighting Honkai wasn't her primary job.
So, on the front lines against Honkai, it made little difference whether she was there or not.
At most, her absence would affect Durandal, since she'd have to handle many things herself without Rita.
But now...
"She got away."
Kiana tilted her head. "What are you mumbling about?"
"Nothing," Levi replied.
He turned to look at Theresa, who had already finished getting the expenses reimbursed. Seeing how relaxed she looked, the funds Otto had provided must have been quite generous.
However, as Otto's granddaughter, Theresa could simply ask him directly if she needed money.
There was no need to go through the reimbursement process.
It was nothing more than her pride getting in the way.
She didn't want other people in Schicksal to call her a nepo baby.
But she was a nepo baby to begin with. No matter what she did, she couldn't change that fact.
It wasn't as though Theresa could cut ties with Otto, could she?
After decades of affection, no matter how much of a bastard Otto was, Theresa was still willing to call him Grandpa.
So cutting ties was impossible.
And she would never be able to shake off the label of a nepo baby, either.
But he really didn't understand why she wanted to get rid of that label in the first place. Schicksal was practically her own family's organization. If it were Levi, he'd be bleeding Otto dry without hesitation.
He'd turn the Far East Branch into a second Schicksal Headquarters.
"..."